November 22, 2017

The situation of food insecurity—struggling to put food on the table due to financial constraints—is a reality for 3,900 people in Northwestern Ontario.

According to an annual food costing survey conducted by the Northwestern Health Unit, the average cost for a family of four to purchase nutritious food in 2017 is $225.45 per week or $976.20 per month.

While the cost of food has increased 6.5 percent since 2010, the issue runs deeper than just the price of healthy food.

“The real issue is that people with low incomes do not have enough money to pay the rent and all the bills, plus buy healthy food,” says Julie Slack, a registered dietitian with the Northwestern Health Unit.